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Saturday, June 22, 2013

ABA Young Birder's Camp in Delaware, Aug. 11-17

Leave it to the American Birding Association (ABA) to nurture our young birders, thus ensuring a strong future for bird conservation. Camp Avocet, ABA's new summer camp located near the Delaware Bay, is a perfect example of fabulous, educational (and fun) events offered to birders aged 13-18. And according to Camp Director Bill Stewart, there are still a limited number of openings left for the week-long camp August 11-17, 2013.

"This new ABA camp will be based at stunning Cape Henlopen State Park in historic Lewes, Delaware, only minutes away from two major National Wildlife Refuges and a short ride from the northernmost cypress swamp in North America, brimming with Prothonotary and Worm-eating Warblers, Red-headed Woodpeckers and nightjars! Did you ask for shorebirds? Well, Camp Avocet will be stacked full of migrant such as dowitchers, Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated, Western and Least Sandpipers, and of course American Avocets numbering in the hundreds."

Avocets on the Delaware Bayshore

"Of course at this hotspot there’s always a chance of rarity! Due to the grand diversity of southern Delaware’s bird-rich habitats, over 150 species of birds will be seen and studied during this seven-day camp extravaganza. As an added bonus via the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, campers will have the opportunity to bird world-famous Cape May and visit Cape May Point, Higbee’s Beach and the Meadows in search of warblers, shorebirds, gulls, terns and more! Campers will be housed and fed in the modern Biden Environmental Center only moments away from the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay. The Piping Plovers, Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers and Royal Terns accentuate the breath-taking sunset off of Cape Henlopen Point, surely providing memories that shall last a lifetime."

American Oystercatchers rest on the beach of the Delaware Bay

The ABA has lined up some of the best regional birding experts to lead this lucky group of campers. As always, the ABA offers a limited number of scholarships to help young people who are interested in birds to attend summer camps, workshops, training programs, conventions and other bird-related activities. Find the scholarship application here.

If Camp Avocet sounds like something your young birder should know about, don't delay! Check out the website and register soon to get one of the remaining spots. For more information or questions, contact ABA's Bill Stewart, Camp Director, at 800.850.2473, or e-mail at bstewart@aba.org.